Tag: www.thehuntergroup.ca

Here are a few recent images taken in the studio. I am beginning to really like the look of a very simple and plain background. The softer lighting pattern is also a nice look. I decided to share color images on this blog , however if you wish to view a few black and white images from the same sitting they can be viewed by clicking here.

Today I decided to pop down to the Harris-Warke Gallery, located in the top floor of Sunworks, to see the exhibition named “10” . I always like to go see how my work looks hung at a quiet time when there is no one else around. I find it easier to have a good look when a space is empty of people.

There was a broad range of work created by over twenty local artists. Printmaking, painting, sculpture, ceramics, and fibre art were all represented. It is really interesting to see the different types of art being produced in one’s city.

The theme for the exhibition is “10” in celebration of the gallery’s 10th anniversary. The exhibition is also a fundraiser in which the final auction takes place this Friday, November 15th. The details for the fundraiser can be found here. If you are in town in the next few days it is definitely worth popping in and taking a look at the work of some local Red Deer artists.

“A Catch of 10” is finally finished after many, many hours of dyeing and stitching and beading. My estimate is that this piece took over 75 hours of work from start to finish. This piece was started with a purpose in mind from the very beginning, it is a piece that was created for a silent auction for a local fundraiser.

The fundraiser is for the Harris-Warke Gallery in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. The theme of this year’s exhibition is “10”. The show will be on display from November 11th to 15th, with the closing reception being at the gallery on Friday November 15th from 6pm to 8 pm. If you really like this piece, feel free to contact the gallery and place a bid on it.

“A Catch of 10” is a “labour of love” type of piece. All the fabrics, threads and yarns that create the piece are dyed by hand in tiny batches with natural dyes. The dyes I make by hand, however some of them I have an even greater role in creating; the yellow-gold color in the background is a dye made from marigolds that have been grown from seed, cared for in my flowerbeds and planters, and then harvested to create dyes at the end of their lives. This is environmentally friendly art.

The “fish” in the piece are actually prints made from a lino cut I created for this work. To create the “fish”, first the image was drawn on paper and transferred to a lino block, the block was then carved to leave only the areas to be printed. I then modified the natural dye with a thickener, brushed on the dye, held my breath, and printed the fish one by one. Let’s just say the printing made for a very stressful afternoon as one slip up and all would be lost.

Once the “fish” were printed the fun began. Hours and hours of hand stitching and hand beading. I love beading. I love how it has been used historically in so many cultures. Beading is very addictive.

The imagery continues to follow my present theme of things and places that are local. I think it is important to embrace our surroundings and culture, it’s honest. I had wanted to do a fish piece for a while but I wanted a local connection, and then it came to me that people go fishing all the time, why not do the catch of the day. I know there will be more pieces featuring fish in the future as it was just too much fun stitching and beading them. The next “fish” piece is being plotted as I write.

If you are looking to check out some local art from Alberta artists pop down to the gallery this coming week. It is located at 4924 Ross Street, Red Deer on the second floor. It is a great way to spend a snowy day.

Here is the first peek at the illustrations I am working on for a local author. She wanted cute, simple and sweet. I think it fits the bill. It has been an interesting project in a very good way. I will share more illustrations in the days to come, and of course the book details when it is time.